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Photo#413801
Bagheera prosper (Salticidae) - Bagheera prosper - male

Bagheera prosper (Salticidae) - Bagheera prosper - Male
Lake Tawakoni State Park, Hunt County, Texas, USA
June 18, 2010
Size: ~9mm, excl. chelicerae
Arachnologist Hank Guarisco identified this as Bagheera from a living specimen. Texas A&M lists Bagheera prosper as the only member of this genus found in Texas. We found two at Lake Tawakoni State Park. They are likely common there because we spent little time spidering.

The only other member of this genus is Bagheera kiplingi, recently determined to be a primarily vegetarian spider eating primarily the Beltian bodies of Acacia trees. There were Acacia-like trees at the park, and park staff is getting back to me on the exact species of the tree.

I had trouble getting a good photo because the spider was fast and would not stop moving.

Images of this individual: tag all
Bagheera prosper (Salticidae) - Bagheera prosper - male Bagheera prosper (Salticidae) - Bagheera prosper - male Bagheera prosper (Salticidae) - Bagheera prosper - male Bagheera prosper (Salticidae) - Bagheera prosper - male Bagheera prosper (Salticidae) - Bagheera prosper - male Bagheera prosper (Salticidae) - Bagheera prosper - male Bagheera prosper (Salticidae) - Bagheera prosper - male

Acacia-like trees
I'm guessing that the Acacia-like trees were honeylocust (Gelditsia triacanthos); I have seen B. prosper on them at Lake Tawakoni State Park, although I have also found them on a variety of other plants. As far as I can tell, they do not share the vegetarian habits of their cousins farther south.

 
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Yes, I agree. I should have followed up. I noticed no association between these spiders and the trees.

Moved
Moved from ID Request.

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